Marine Fisheries

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, July 4, 2013, the following restrictions will apply to the fisheries for snapper-grouper:

I. Black Sea Bass, south of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.0321’ N. Latitude)

A. For recreational purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 13 inches total length. 2. It is unlawful to possess more than five (5) black sea bass per person per day.

B. For commercial purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length. 2. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 1,180 whole weight (1,000 pounds gutted weight) of black sea bass per trip. 3. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid federal South Atlantic Snapper Grouper permit and a valid Black Sea Bass Pot Endorsement to possess on board more than 35 pots when in possession of black sea bass. 4. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid federal South Atlantic Snapper Grouper permit and a valid Black Sea Bass Pot Endorsement to fail to remove all sea bass pots from the water and return the vessel to a dock, berth, beach, seawall or ramp at the conclusion of a trip.

II. Gag Grouper and Black Grouper

A. For recreational purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess gag or black grouper less than 24 inches total length. 2. It is unlawful to possess more than one gag or one black grouper per person per day without a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.

B. For commercial purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess gag or black grouper less than 24 inches total length. 2. It is unlawful to possess more than one gag or one black grouper per person per day without a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit. 3. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 1,000 pounds (gutted weight) of gag grouper per trip.

III. Other Groupers

A. It is unlawful to possess shallow water grouper species taken for recreational and commercial purposes from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from January 1 through April 30. Shallow water grouper species include gag, black, red, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper.

B. It is unlawful to possess red grouper less than 20 inches total length.

C. It is unlawful to possess yellowfin grouper (fireback grouper) less than 20 inches total length.

D. It is unlawful to possess scamp less than 20 inches total length.

E. It is unlawful to possess yellowmouth grouper less than 20 inches total length.

F. For commercial purposes, it is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit to possess or land more than one hundred pounds of snowy grouper (gutted weight) per vessel per trip, regardless of the number of persons involved. For recreational purposes, it is unlawful to possess snowy grouper. The season will re-open at 12:01a.m. on January 1, 2014.

IV. Greater Amberjack

A. For recreational purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess greater amberjack less than 28 inches fork length. 2. It is unlawful to possess more than one greater amberjack per person per day.

B. For commercial purposes:

1. It is unlawful to possess greater amberjack less than 36 inches fork length. 2. It is unlawful to sell or purchase greater amberjack less than 36 inches fork length.

C. It is unlawful to possess more than one greater amberjack per person per day without a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.

D. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 1,200 pounds (gutted weight) of greater amberjack per trip.

E. It is unlawful to possess more than one greater amberjack per person per day, or one per trip (whichever is more restrictive) during the month of April.

F. It is unlawful to sell or purchase greater amberjack during any season closure for greater amberjack.